C.J. McCollum, a preseason All-American and the nation’s leading scorer, might well have played his last college basketball game.

The Lehigh star limped off the court at halftime Saturday night at VCU and returned to the bench later on crutches with his left foot heavily bandaged. On the bench, NBC Sports Network cameras caught McCollum telling a teammate about the injury and, with tears running down his cheek, clearly said, “I broke my foot.”

Lehigh coach Brett Reed told ESPN late Saturday that if McCollum's injury is a break to the fifth metatarsal, he will be out at least six weeks.

Reed also told CBSSports.com in a text message regarding the injury that "it's not absolutely clear about the severity of the injury yet. We are going to attempt clearer diagnostic tests tomorrow. It is probable there is a fracture in his foot based on the diagnostics equipment available on site."

After the game, Reed had said something similar regarding McCollum's injury, stopping short of such a dire conclusion, saying a final diagnosis isn’t possible until more tests can be performed Sunday.

"It appears as if there may be a break in his foot," Reed told reporters after the game. "It is too early to make that diagnosis for sure. I'm certainly not an expert in that area. We're going to take him back, do some tests and we'll ultimately have some confirmation from there, but I think it is a little bit more significant than an ankle sprain.

He injured the foot while driving into the lane but then pulled up with 5:37 left in the first half. He didn’t roll the ankle or make contact with any defenders. He just pulled up in pain.

Reed’s guess that there is a fracture was based on "just talking to our trainer and kind of the location of the injury and everything that was associated with it. I don't think that's a position where's there's a lot of strains that take place."

He missed all five of his field-goal attempts against VCU on Saturday, but he did contribute four free throws. Even without McCollum, Lehigh kept the game close, losing 59-55 at VCU.

"We are trying to be positive," Lehigh junior guard Mackey McKnight told USA Today. "We told all of our families to pray for him. We need everyone to come together because we aren't sure what happened and the extent of it.

"We just have to embrace him and make him feel better and stronger. … He's a brother to all of us, and it hurts to see someone (like him) get injured."

The news certainly disappointed the 32 NBA scouts that were in attendance to see McCollum face VCU’s ferocious defense. It’s the second buzzkill McCollum has delivered to scouts; he missed the North Texas matchup on Dec. 20 because of a sprained ankle.

McCollum has been a star since the moment he stepped on the Lehigh campus, averaging 19.1 points as a freshman, 21.8 as a sophomore and 21.9 as a junior.

He hit the national stage big time last spring when he outdueled Duke star Austin River and scored 30 points as the 15th-seeded Mountain Hawks upset No. 2 Duke, 75-70, in the NCAA Tournament. Lehigh lost in the round of 32 to Xavier but left a lasting impression on NBA scouts.

Although a likely first-round draft pick, McCollum opted to return to school for his senior season.

“I believe that finishing up my degree at Lehigh University is an essential and pivotal step in the right direction for my future career in Journalism and Sports Broadcasting,” McCollum wrote in Sporting News last April. “Growing up, I promised my mother I would complete my degree and although there is no time limit, I feel like the time is now.

“Another reason I am coming back involves my teammates and coaches. After making a run last year, which included that memorable victory over Duke in the NCAA Tournament before a disappointing loss to Xavier, I feel like I still have unfinished business left at the collegiate level and have more to accomplish with this team.

“By returning for my senior year, I give myself a chance to complete my degree at a prestigious university, while putting myself in a position to be successful no matter what happens in my future.”